MUMBAI: In good news for the city , the number of new cars, SUVs and scooters being registered dropped by 4-19% in 2016-17 as compared to the previous financial year.

The registration of motorcycles continued to rise, as has been the trend over the past several years.

The latest statistics provided by the state transport department shows that scooter registrations had dropped by 19% in 2016-17 as compared to 2015-16. Similarly , the car registrations also dropped by nearly 2,200 cars -which comes to a 4% drop in figures as compared to the previous year.The registration of SUVs too dipped by 12%.

“We welcome this change as the dip in registrations will ensure control on the vehicular population of Mumbai,“ said A V Shenoy of Mumbai Vikas Samiti. Road length in the city has not increased significantly and remained at nearly 2,000 km for several years. But there's been a 50% in crease in total vehicles -46% rise in the number of private cars and 56% increase in the bike population since 2011-12, he said, adding that more citizens should be encouraged to walk or ride bicycles.

Among the reasons for the drop in registration of cars at the four city RTOs are dearth of parking spaces and conges tion on roads, an official said.Many have opted for aggregator cabs rather than the hassle of owning a vehicle, he added.

Another transport expert said the city's private vehicles, especially SUVs, added to pollution (both sound and air), and there was a need to restrict their presence on roads by encouraging the use of public transport.

“It's a pleasant surprise.The government should now put a ceiling on the number of vehicles that can be registered every year. In fact, this was one of the suggestions of the V M Lal committee in 2000, and the present transport commissioner should implement some of the past recommendations as it will help curb vehicular pollution,“ said activist G R Vora.

He added that public transport should be supported and green fuel needs to be made cheaper. “The government should give further concessions for vehicles plying on green fuel and its sales should be boosted.“

Experts also called for an increase in parking fees, oddeven number plate system for cars to restrict their movement to commercial hubs, and an increase in registration chargestaxes to create a deterrent for new buyers.

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In 2018, automobile demand remained robust despite the slowdown overcast in the last three months of year. All segments reported strong double-digit growth in the calendar year ending December 31 except passenger vehicles which reported a growth of 5 per cent. Three-wheelers sales grew fastest followed by commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and passenger vehicles. The overall automobile sales crossed 26.7 million units for the first time.

In 2018, automobile demand remained robust despite the slowdown overcast in the last three months of year. All segments reported strong double-digit growth in the calendar year ending December 31 except passenger vehicles which reported a growth of 5 per cent. Three-wheelers sales grew fastest followed by commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and passenger vehicles. The overall automobile sales crossed 26.7 million units for the first time.